Liam Hoden

Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy has revealed he laughed off a ‘ridiculous’ loan offer for striker Daryl Murphy – believed to be from Sheffield Wednesday.

Though McCarthy did not identify the club which tabled a bid for a season-long loan for the forward, the East Anglian Daily Times suggested it had come via Owls sporting director committee member Glenn Roeder.

Murphy – who was with Wednesday on loan for a month from Sunderland during the 2005/06 season – scored 27 goals last season and Town would consider bids of £5m, according to reports.

It is understood Middlesbrough had a £4.5m bid rebuffed while Norwich City, Stoke City, West Brom and Leicester City have all been linked.

“Is there any interest in him? Of course there is, he’s just scored 27 goals in a season and was outstanding,” McCarthy said. “I’ve even had one club ring up and ask if we would loan him. That was outstanding that.

“He said ‘just give me a one word answer’ because he knew that if he asked for a two word answer what the response would be.

“I had to think of something else sharp and witty, which I managed.

“It was somewhat ridiculous. Maybe they were winding me up? I don’t know. I don’t think they were.”

Ipswich have drawn up contingency plans should they lose Murphy this summer.